Do Olmert and Peretz have the cojones? I doubt it. Its very much a graduated (limited) response that's being sensationalized by the news channels. Imagine bombing buildings in the middle of the night. Oh how nasty of those big bad Israelis. This latest attack in Gaza is a little funny to me.
Ariel Sharon tried to take em out in 1982 but the United States stopped the ground offensvie short of taking out Arafat. That's history. President Bush insists on "restraint" and Israel is following the lead with the limited attacks.
These "limited" responses lead to "limited" outcomes. I get bees in my kitchen every spring, and I blast every one of them I find. I spray their nests and search every corner and crevice for the marauders. My wife is deathly allergic to bee stings. I can't afford to not do things right.
What is so stinking hard here for these politicians?
"Imagine bombing buildings in the middle of the night."
It is a waste of bombs. Drop them on some Hamas fighters.
Battlespace Preparation: “What we are witnessing in southern Lebanon is concurrent with actions designed to prep a battlefield for the insertion of ground forces…By blockading the coast, neutralizing Beirut’s airport, and damaging roads and bridges into and out of Lebanon, the IDF has cut off Hezbollah’s supply routes by land, sea, and air, and blocked all lines of escape.”
Do Olmert and Peretz have the cojones? I doubt it. Its very much a graduated (limited) response that's being sensationalized by the news channels. Imagine bombing buildings in the middle of the night. Oh how nasty of those big bad Israelis. This latest attack in Gaza is a little funny to me.
Ariel Sharon tried to take em out in 1982 but the United States stopped the ground offensvie short of taking out Arafat. That's history. President Bush insists on "restraint" and Israel is following the lead with the limited attacks.
Between all the talk of cease fire within the next 24 hours and Olmert's history for being a pansy, i'm not sure whether Israel will take advantage of the "battlespace preparation" purportedly being done. With each hour that passes i become less and less confident the IDF will go into Southern Lebanon and take care of business. I have a question for the board - How far does this conflict go (with analysis)?
For me, I still think there is a good chance the IDF will be allowed to deal Hizbullah a death blow. Condi Rice was on the talkshow circuit today and she actually sounded more like herself as the National Security Advisor rather than a foggy bottom shmoe. She said a prolonged conflict may be necessary. That's big talk from the state dept. biggest official. I believe the political cover is there from the U.S. so long as the IDF doesn't take down the Lebanses govt. and doesn't take the fight to Iran or Syria (unless or course there is direct intervention or some serious escalation by Hizbullah, like a Zevdal missile attack into TelAviv with its 1000 lb warhead, or an attack on Dimona or oil refinery/petrochemical plant in Hafia). Olmert needs to be thrown out on his head if he accepts a cease fire under conditions less than what was previously outlined (return soldiers, stop rocket attacks, dismantle Hizbullah and remove them from the border) particularly when he a) seemingly has US political cover and surprisingly little Arab street protest b) mobilized the IDF (historically not a symbolic move in Israel and c) shut down Hafia port and closed down many businesses in the north. Let's get it done IDF!!